29 Ideas for Party Favor Packaging

The post I could not stop writing about my favorite birthday party favor ideas started me thinking about fun ideas for party favor packaging. Here are my go-to party favor container ideas.

1. Bow and Tag

My all-time favorite way to give a party favor is just by adding a pretty bow and a favor tag. I like a wide ribbon (either grosgrain or satin) and whatever tag comes with the printables collection I’m using for the rest of the party. (Here’s the book we gave at our Shabby Chic Easter Party.)

2. Paper Bag with Handles

The other thing I do I lot is to choose a paper bag with handles. That way, guests can use the party favor bag to also carry home any craft they made during the party or pinata candy. At our Vintage Tea Party, I decorated the paper bags with doilies and ribbon.

3. Stamped Muslin Bags

You can buy plain muslin bags and stamp them yourself or buy finished bags. 1PixiePlace on Etsy has lots of cute options, like these Safari bags.

4. Printed Fabric Bags or Totes

Like the look of fabric drawstring bags, but want something a little more polished? Look for a printed bag. EVNT mini on Etsy makes these personalized bags and loads of other designs in four different sizes.

5. Lined Treat Bags

If you’re packaging a cookie, It may come in a clear plastic bag. But you also can slip it into a grease-proof lined paper treat bag. Find these pre-printed with cute art, add your own art through Zazzle.com or run them through your home printer. For our Firefly Catching Party, I bought firefly art from an Etsy seller, then added text, printed the bags at home, and added a rag tie.

6. Glassine Bags

I like glassine bags because they give your guests a little peek at the party favor. I used glassine bags at our Flower Fairy Party to give violet seed seed paper. All I had to do was add a printable thank you tag and a bit of ribbon.

7. Tin buckets

I used tin buckets as mini Easter baskets on our pastel children’s Easter table. (If you’ll put unwrapped food in the buckets, line them with a plastic sandwich bag because they are not food safe.)

8. Clear Plastic Containers

Sort of like popcorn boxes but clear, these plastic containers give you maximum decorating flexibility. Plus, the scalloped edge is really cute. We used these combined with paper sacks with handles at the build-your-own party favor bar at my daughter’s Favorite Things Party. (They are also great as a more sophisticated way to serve popcorn to tweens.)

9. Gable boxes

Gable boxes are fabulous picnic lunches, party game or craft supplies or party favors. They come in large and small sizes plus a variety of colors and are a snap to assemble. Add a sticker, tag or die cut designs plus ribbon and you’re good to go. How cute is this princess party gable box from Amelia’s Papery on Etsy?

10. Jewelry boxes

Jewelry boxes are handy if you want a box option. Find these with clear plastic or cardboard covers. They also come with interior cushioning, which is handy if you party favor doesn’t fill the entire space. We used jewelry boxes to give DVDs of the Nancy Drew movie at our Mystery Party. I used glue dots to wrap ribbon around the box and top it with a thank you tag.

11. Lunch box

Mini tin lunch boxes are fun options. You can find Christmas versions seasonally at Dollar Tree or plain ones at Lunchbox.com. Dress up plain lunch boxes by adding patterned scrapbooking paper with Modge Podge, like I did at our Letters to Santa Party.

For our Wizard of Oz Party, I got lucky and found blue gingham lunchboxes in the Easter section of Michael’s.

12. Brown lunch sack

The brown paper lunch sack is a classic and easy to dress up. For our Junie B Jones school-themed party, I painted wood clothes pins red and clipped on a thank you tag.

13. Mini Jelly bags

I love love mini jelly bags for little girls. You know they’ll even play with the party favor packaging after your party. Festive Fetti has a great assortment.

14. Popcorn boxes

Popcorn boxes are great for circus, carnival or movie-themed parties. Use white crinkle paper to make “popcorn” to hold your treats in place. Here’s a quick tutorial PLUS a link to a free thank you tag I made.

15. Shower caddy

How about using a shower caddy for a spa party? It would be so cute filled with a shower pouf, lotion, face mask and other spa goodies. Plastic caddies like this one are just $1.25 at Dollar Tree.

16. Cello bags

Cello bags come in so many sizes and shapes and are crazy flexible. You can use them to package food but also just about anything else. If your party favor is cute and deserves to be on display, then pop it in a cello bag and add a thank you tag. For my Independence Day Party, I added red and blue candy to polka dot cups, slipped those into a cello bag, tied on my thank you tag with a ribbon and was done!

17. Personalized canvas sack

If you can get a solid RSVP list in advance, personalized canvas sacks are great for party favors and you won’t even need printable thank you tags. These favor sacks are from a crocodile party from Party Box Designs that is a must-see.

 

18. Charcuterie cups or fry boxes

For smaller party favors, think about charcuterie cups or fry boxes. These containers stand on their own. Just add some crinkle paper shred, top with your favor, and maybe slide a cello bag over the cup to keep everything together. Emily M Design Co on Etsy offers a great variety of charcuterie cup designs. Her blue gingham cups would be perfect for a Wizard of Oz party or Peter Rabbit party.

19. Acrylic boxes

Giving candy as your party favor? Package it in a 2″ x 2″ hard acrylic box. Add a label or tie and ribbon around the box and you’re done. Guests can use the box later as a trinket holder. This cute box is from Beau-Coup, a great source for party favors. You also can personalize stickers with Beau-Coup.

20. Tumbler or Stadium cup

Assemble these favors they same way you would a charcuterie cup or fry box. The tumbler or plastic cup may hold more than the charcuterie cup or fry box, so it may be better for larger favors. These are especially great for sports-themed parties. You’ll find plenty of Etsy sellers who can personalize cups for you. Having a larger party? Beau-Coup sells personalized cups in a variety of designs in sets of 50.

21. Small mason jars

If your party has a rustic feel, go with a small mason jar. These are available in plastic or glass, with or without handles. Try Dollar Tree first, then WalMart. Let your favor shine through the clear jar, or line the jar with a bandana in your party colors. The Gunny Sack made these great Go Fishing party favors from blue-tinted mason jars.

22. Makeup/pencil zip pouch

Have a makeup bag or pencil pouch personalized by an Etsy seller, or buy Stoney Clover-style iron-on letters to personalize inexpensive bags yourself. Very cute for spa parties or back to school parties. Swag Bags Co on Etsy makes these colorful makeup bags.

23. Straw basket

Need a bigger party favor container? Try a straw basket. These baskets from Leonardo Marrakesh on Etsy are available personalized or not and with or without yarn poms.

 

24. Macaron box

At my daughters’ bowling party, I packaged hand lotion and chocolates in clear macaron boxes. These are easy to assemble. When the favors were put together, I stuck on a thank you tag with washi tape.

25. Mini terra cotta pot

You’ll see mini terra cotta pots as party favors for birthdays, baby showers and bridal showers. Planning a gardening party, farmer’s market party (like this one from Project Nursery) or fiesta? All great choices for a terra cotta pot as a party favor container. These little pots are also darling as place cards.

26. Berry basket

Berry baskets are perfect individual picnic baskets but also are good party favor containers. Paint the top band or add a pretty ribbon bow to your basket. Strawberry party? A berry basket is the clear choice for packing your party favors. Armelle Blog used berry basket for delicious French-inspired party favors.

27. Wood basket

A chipwood basket is a natural choice for any picnic party or Wizard of Oz party. You can find mini sizes (3″ x 2″) on up, so choose your party favor and then your basket size. I used these baskets for packaging s’mores kits at our Horseback Riding Party.

28. Treat bag topper

Your party printables designer may offer treat bag toppers, or be happy to customize some for your party. Insert your party favor in a zip top sandwich bag, fold the printable topper over the opening of the bag, and staple in place. This is a good option for candies, little toy soldiers or a cookie. Tangerine Paper Shoppe on Etsy makes a vintage airplane theme that’s adorable.

29. Pillow boxes

Pillow boxes are a party favor classic. This set from Amazon includes 50 boxes for less than $10. You can write on the box before it’s assembled, or just tie it with twine or ribbon afterwards. Insert small favors like candy. Etsy seller The Favor Studio also makes pillow boxes in a variety of colors.

Do you have a go-to party favor container? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add it to the list.